The 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival Derby Day trends prove classic silhouettes and old-world glamour are always in style

As I hung my heels after another Derby Day, I was pleased with the outfit I chose to wear this year. Many spring racing-goers will admit to planning their outfits around the current trends, but for me, Derby Day this year was all about ‘re-wear’.

I styled my Julie Goodwin Couture coat dress over a white tulle skirt and teamed it with a white embellished belt that I made myself. I had Louise Macdonald work her magic on a unique millinery piece, and when I stepped off the train at the track, I was ‘spotted’ and asked to enter Fashions on the Field! I politely declined, but another Louise Macdonald millinery masterpiece won the day for entrant Adele Pearce, who took out the Myer Fashions on the Field Women’s Racewear AAMI Victoria Derby Day crown in a black and white striped Toni Maticevski dress.

Two years ago, I wore my coat dress to Derby Day with a wide-brimmed straw hat by Louise Macdonald, and I was snapped by one of Flemington’s roving fashion photographers. Suffice to say; it is an eye-catching outfit and one that never dates.

Bec Cole styled the same coat dress for a feature in last year’s Victoria Racing Club Spring Racing Magazine shoot, pairing it with black and white pumps, an elegant top hat and a waist-belt.

It is a timeless piece and one that oozes old-world glamour, but it can be styled up or down for any occasion, and it works on every figure.

This year, it served me well at Derby Day, and it will no doubt make an appearance again next year.